Saturday

Jul 26, 2008 at 4:01 AM

By AARON DORKSEN

Daily Record Sports Editor

Even by hockey standards, Wooster Oilers defenseman Corey McDevitt is one tough guy.

The 20-year-old junior A hockey player's list of past injuries pretty much runs from head to toe: two broken arms suffered after separate slashing incidents by opponent's sticks, torn knee ligaments, broken nose, various other cuts, scrapes and sprains.

So when McDevitt was diagnosed with testicular cancer in March, and had the cancer return recently in his lungs, there was only one plan of attack for him.

"I want to get back to the ice as soon as possible," said McDevitt, who's been on the Oilers roster all three years of their existence after playing club hockey at Massillon Jackson High School. "Cancer has picked the wrong guy to mess with. I am going to fight and win.

"I've already beat it; this is just a little formality. My goal is to be back playing for the Oilers by Halloween."

Oilers coach Hart Duddy has no doubts that McDevitt will play again soon on Wooster's junior team for ages 15-20.

"You can see it in the eyes of some people who give up when they have cancer," Duddy said. "My own father died of lung cancer five years ago. Toward the end you could see it that he wasn't going to be able to fight it anymore.

"I've never seen that look in Corey's eyes, and I don't ever expect to."

Because McDevitt is young, strong and

determined, Duddy said the doctors believe he can beat the cancer.

McDevitt made Duddy break out in a wide smile the first time the coach went to sit with him during a chemotherapy session at the Cleveland Clinic Wooster.

"I wasn't sure what room Corey was in and then I saw a pair of hockey skates through a door window," Duddy said. "He wears his skates during the treatments."

McDevitt's treatment program is extremely aggressive in an attempt to stop the disease in its tracks.

"Every three weeks, I have seven-hour treatments five days a week," said McDevitt, who's completed one of three prescribed rounds and also takes chemo every single Monday.

McDevitt has nothing but positive things to say about the people who are helping him.

"Cleveland Clinic Wooster is by far the best place to go for cancer treatments," McDevitt said. "They've been great with me.

"I also can't thank enough all the people who have supported me, from my family, girlfriend, host family, team and so many other people."

Life-changing diagnosis

Even before being hit with the cancer diagnosis, McDevitt was drawn to one of the country's most famous survivors: cycling legend Lance Armstrong.

"I knew about him and wore a Live Strong bracelet," McDevitt said. "I just never knew that I'd get (cancer)."

McDevitt had not read Armstrong's book -- "It's not about the bike" -- until he was undergoing chemo.

"It was eerily similar some of the things he wrote about and what I was thinking," McDevitt said. "At first, it's like, 'Oh shit!' but then I quickly thought, 'I'm going to kick cancer's (butt).' Those were just about Lance Armstrong's exact quotes."

McDevitt will never forget the whirlwind week in March when his cancer was diagnosed. He noticed a lump and had been having back pain when team doctor Chris Ranney began tests.

"It went from a lump to the size of golf ball by the time I went to a urologist on a Thursday," McDevitt said. "That Monday I was in surgery."

To make matters even worse, his parents were away in Mexico on vacation at the time.

"It was hard not having my family here, but I didn't want to wait for the surgery," McDevitt said. "My billet (host) family, Deb and Walt Conrad, were there for me and so was my girlfriend and team."

When blood tests revealed the cancer had returned three weeks ago, McDevitt was ready to fight back in round two. Again, he drew inspiration from Armstrong.

"When testicular cancer returns, it will usually attack the lungs first and it even went to Lance's brain," McDevitt said. "We caught it way before that happened for me."

Everything he's got

McDevitt is taking things day by day while he's on the chemo regimen. Any small victory is appreciated.

"I skate, work out and go to work every day I can," said McDevitt, who lives in Wooster, is an intern at LukUSA and has also attended Wayne College. "I'm trying to keep my life as normal as possible, just with the formality of sitting through chemo treatments for seven hours on some days."

McDevitt used to run two miles at a time for conditioning, but with his body exhausted by the treatments he's happy now to jog four laps around his apartment complex.

If he can only skate for 10 minutes, McDevitt is still happy to have laced up his skates and hit the puck around.

Whereas he used to play a 2 1/2-hour hockey game and then ride an exercise bike for 10 minutes, now a day's workout might consist of just 30 minutes on the bike.

And even at the hospital McDevitt wants to get up and going as soon as he can.

"I'll get up and walk 10 laps after chemo when everybody else is still just sitting there," he said, knowing the next round of treatment could be much harder on him. "I just want to stay as active as possible."

Duddy said that "being away from the ice is more painful for Corey than anything a needle can do."

The first-year coach joked that "critiquing some of the DVDs from last year's losses is more painful, too."

McDevitt has kept all the weight he had on his 6-foot, 190-pound frame before the chemo thanks to the conditioning he's still been able to do.

A love for Chipotle food also helps.

"I'm in there all the time," he said. "They know my order before I say it."

Support system

Beside McDevitt's determination, Duddy said the hockey player has an incredible support system working in his favor.

"He'll have five or six people stop in to sit with him during treatments," Duddy said. "He's gotten phone calls and e-mails from people all over Wooster, the state and beyond.

"A top junior hockey coach from Alaska called to wish him well; former Philadelphia Flyers player Don Biggs e-mailed. He even got an e-mail from Germany, but we don't know what it says."

No one's spent more time with McDevitt than his girl friend, figure skater Jessica Taylor.

"Corey's attitude has been amazing for this to happen to someone so young," said Taylor, who's originally from Medina. "I don't think I'd have been that positive, or that a lot of other people would.

"I think it would be absolutely amazing if he returns to playing, and I have no doubts that he will. He's just gotta keep pushing through."

McDevitt also wants to support others who might one day go through what he's endured. He said early detection is crucial.

"If you find a lump, don't be embarrassed," he said. "Go to a doctor and tell them how you're feeling.

"I hope somebody learns something from me, even if I don't know about it."

As the Oilers open their tryout camp this weekend, the season opener at Jamestown (N.Y.) on Sept. 12 is drawing ever closer. McDevitt's locker will remain filled with his equipment until he can return.

That day can't come soon enough.

"My mom never thought I'd like a small city like Wooster, but I love it here and love the Oilers," McDevitt said. "I'll miss the first road games and then it will take some time to get back into playing shape.

"It's killing me to see them out there playing and not be able to do it. I plan to be back playing by October."

One day, McDevitt believes cancer will be just another ailment on the list of injuries that couldn't keep him down. After all, he's a hockey player.

Anyone who wants to send words of encouragement or thoughts and prayers to Corey can write him in care of Alice Noble Ice Arena, 851 Oldman Road, Wooster, Ohio, 44691. E-mails can also be sent to coachhart@nc.rr.com and will be forwarded to Corey.

Aaron Dorksen can be reached at 330-287-1621 or adorksen@the-daily-record.com

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